Connacht Team Talk Thread VI - Some like it TOH

1 too many missed 1st tackles, again

2 mentally soft, again

3 Fafita, except locking the scrum a bit, scrum which wasn't that bad vs a good opposion, brought nothin in 2 years. Roux-profile downgraded

4 very sorry to say that as i did put hope in his bigger LH profile but Duggan is not progressing in contact. Not a single effective tackle or ruck

5 same for DTM, took long to emerge from U20 to senior, the reason is blatant, he's too light, though trying his best

6) Blade mixes the best (carrying) with the worst (slow decision-making and kicks). He's a home-energized, start him vs Cardiff but consider more ponderate Marmion for Glasgow away

7) Bundee is not bad but not fast enough for 13-cover. Same for TOH, we won't have a top-class 15 to finish the season, even taking the risk of trying A.Byrne here, which we won't, except maybe at 23

Now positives

1) Completely different team to expect for Cardiff with key players are re-introduced, Buckley, Bealham, Carty, Murphy, Butler, that's called a stabilizing core bone

2) no apparent injury yesterday

3) Hansen playing in another dimension

4) Forde, 12 even able to correctly cover 10, is the most exciting Academy prospect since Henshaw. Aki is a talismantic impact player, I think we should have them both as such 12 Forde (covering 10) 13 Farrell (decent again yesterday) 22) Aki (no 10 on the bench) 23 Byrne/Jennings/Kilgallen

5) If Oliver is banned, could be a blessing in disguise, SHL bring more power IMO and Butler is useful too. I would not scrap Boyle yet too, he just need a bit a confidence after a long lay-off IMO

6) Porch, like Farrell is important to us

7) Illo and Augier are competing at very correct level for 2nd choice spot, able to step-up

About missed tackles, even if the team was involved to scrumble after, to make up for sometimes, 136 made 20 missed.

Far from the needed level

for example the model Leinster yesterday 97 made 1 missed

a decent team for example Ulster 197 made 15 missed, then 7,5%

Edimbugh vs Leicester missed 10%,

we're above 16%! Vs both Dragons and Embra we had 13% missed!

If vs Cardiff and Glasgow we're not under the maximum of 10% missed tackles, we're not in our place in Champions Cup

Think that's the best analysis of the game if truth be said. Bright side is both Glasgow and Cardiff remain in Challenge cup so they are working on two fronts while we now work on only one.

Muldoon is coaching with one of the worst teams in the premiership.

Well they aren't good! Hence their low standing.

I wouldn't be surprised if Wilkins took over one of defence/attack with one coach brought in for the other. A skills coach would be great imo.

From the Connacht State of play email. "We also had some of our key players sign contract extensions that will keep them here next season and beyond. This includes"

Caolin Blade | Paul Boyle | Denis Buckley | Jordan Duggan | David Hawkshaw | Dave Heffernan | Sam Illo | Niall Murray | John Porch | Dylan Tierney-Martin | Gavin Thornbury

not sure if all of these have been announced. More signings to come too but not specified if players and/or coaching staff.

I think Frawley is the one Connacht should target.

He’s obviously seen as a 10 by Ireland coaches but don’t think Leinster are of the same opinion. Depth in front and behind him in all positions at Leinster. Could come straight into that 22 jersey and pushing Carty for a starting squad here

I'm not sure if Frawley is seen as a 10 by Ireland coaches.

I suspect that Frawley is seen as a utility back that covers 10 and he spent time in camp at 10 to get him the tike at 10 he wasn't getting in Leinster.

To that point I suspect that Farrell was considering 2 dedicated 10s and a utility back in the world cup squad.

New one year contracts for Bolton and McCoy

Two year deal for Colm Reilly

Forde looks like the long term option at 12. Hawkshaw will be a decent rotation option at 12 and some times 10. Still need a 10 though

Delahunt

Fafita

masterson

Booth??

McCormack??

marmion

fitzgerald

wooton

Toh

Byrne

I think that’s it but I’m probably missing someone

Both signed new deals last year, Burke was confirmed to be 2 years and theres a decent chance Aungier's was too.

I know there was a lot of talk about it both ways but the branch need to confirm bundee is staying too.

Shane Delahunt retiring at the end of the season.